U.S. patent number 4,544,205 [Application Number 06/504,915] was granted by the patent office on 1985-10-01 for seat and self-locking cushion assembly therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Caterpillar Tractor Co.. Invention is credited to John Molnar.
United States Patent |
4,544,205 |
Molnar |
October 1, 1985 |
Seat and self-locking cushion assembly therefor
Abstract
A self-locking cushion assembly (14) is connectable to and
releasable from a seat shell (12) having a plurality of fingers
(52,54) and a plurality of openings (56) without the use of tools
or loose parts. The cushion assembly (14) includes a cushion (60)
defining a plurality of recesses (62) and a peripheral frame (64)
connected to the cushion (60) and having a plurality of projections
(68), so that in use the fingers (52,54) extend upwardly within the
recesses (62) and overlap the frame (64) and the projections (68)
depend within the openings (56) in order to lockingly secure the
cushion assembly (14) to the seat shell (12).
Inventors: |
Molnar; John (Aurora, IL) |
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
(Peoria, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
24008233 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/504,915 |
Filed: |
June 16, 1983 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/452.14;
297/223; 297/440.2; 297/440.22; 297/452.55; 297/DIG.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
7/24 (20130101); A47C 31/02 (20130101); Y10S
297/01 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
7/24 (20060101); A47C 31/02 (20060101); A47C
31/00 (20060101); A47C 7/02 (20060101); A47C
007/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/219,223,452,455,DIG.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
1005822 |
|
Sep 1965 |
|
GB |
|
1425069 |
|
Feb 1976 |
|
GB |
|
2060367 |
|
Oct 1979 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lyddane; William E.
Assistant Examiner: Falk; Joseph
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lanchantin, Jr.; Charles E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A self-locking cushion assembly for connection to a seat shell
having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of
openings, comprising:
a cushion defining a plurality of inner face recesses; and
a supporting frame connected to the cushion and having a plurality
of locking projections depending at a right angle therefrom each of
the recesses being adapted in use to individually receive one of
the inclined fingers with the frame being overlappingly retained by
the inclined fingers, and each of the locking projections being
adapted in use to individually extend downwardly within one of the
openings for releasably securing the cushion assembly to the seat
shell.
2. The cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers project in
use into the cushion.
3. The cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporting frame
includes a plate-like polygonal ring.
4. The cushion assembly of claim 3 wherein the projections are
right circular cylinders connected to the polygonal ring.
5. The cushion assembly of claim 4 wherein the fingers project in
use into the cushion.
6. The cushion assembly of claim 4 including a cover extending over
the cushion and being connected overlappingly to the polygonal
ring.
7. The cushion assembly of claim 3 wherein the polygonal ring has a
pair of apertures (78), two of the fingers extending in use through
the apertures and overlapping the polygonal ring.
8. In a vehicle seat, the combination comprising:
a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a
plurality of openings; and
a cushion assembly including a foam cushion defining a plurality of
recesses and a supporting frame peripherally connected to the
cushion and having a plate-like member and a plurality of locking
projections extending at a right angle therefrom, each of the
fingers extending within one of the recesses and into overlapping
engagement with the plate-like member and each of the projections
being lockingly received within one of the openings.
9. The seat of claim 8 wherein the plate-like member has a pair of
apertures, two of the fingers extending through the apertures and
overlapping the plate-like member.
10. The seat of claim 8 wherein two of the fingers project
longitudinally into the foam cushion sufficient to create a
resilient loading causing frictional loading between the locking
projections and set shell openings.
11. The seat of claim 8 wherein the locking projections are right
circular cylinders.
12. The seat of claim 8 including a cover extending over the foam
cushion and being overlappingly connected to the plate-like
member.
13. The seat of claim 8 wherein the plate-like member is generally
a relatively flat polygonal ring of a construction sufficient for
manually induced arcuate deflection enabling the convenient release
of the locking projections from the openings of the seat shell.
14. A seat comprising:
a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a
plurality of openings; and
a cushion assembly including a foam cushion and a plate-like
supporting frame peripherally connected to the cushion, the cushion
having a plurality of inner face recesses, the supporting frame
having a pair of depending right circular locking pins, the fingers
individually extending within one of the recesses and overlappingly
engaging the supporting frame with the locking pins being
individually received in one of the openings.
15. The seat of claim 14 wherein the supporting frame includes a
relatively flat polygonal ring defining a pair of apertures
therein, two of the fingers extending through the pair of apertures
and overalpping the ring.
Description
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to positively securing a cushion
assembly to a seat shell, and more particularly to the convenient
manual attachment and quick release of a cushion assembly with
respect to the shell of a vehicle seat without tools and loose
parts.
BACKGROUND ART
Many cushion assemblies have been secured to a seat frame by nuts
and bolts requiring screwthreading of the elements. Other cushion
assemblies have been secured to the frame or shell by use of
clinching strips and joint clips. But these representative
assemblies are undesirable because they require a considerable
number of loose parts, hand tools, and relatively costly and
time-consuming assembly and disassembly procedures.
The construction of U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,696 issued Jan. 30, 1973 to
R. Dudley teaches use of studs secured to the pads or cushion
members which are pressed into apertures in the seat pan. But such
studs are sometimes of deformable or breakable plastic, so that it
would be difficult to resecure the cushion members to the seat pan
in a positive manner.
Still other seat assemblies, such as represented by U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,169,627 issued Oct. 2, 1979 to R. T. Murphy, et al; 4,065,181
issued Dec. 27, 1977 to D. E. Gunlock, et al; and 4,065,182 issued
Dec. 27, 1977 to M. J. Braniff, et al, are unsatisfactory because
they are of complex construction. For example, they require rod
like latches, wires, and/or multiple rigid panel members secured to
the cushion, or the like.
Accordingly, what is desired is a self-locking cushion assembly of
simple and yet sturdy construction which does not require any loose
parts or tools to install it positively and interlockingly on a
seat shell. A further feature is to avoid the use of projecting
fastening devices that can be easily broken off in use.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the
problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a self-locking cushion
assembly is provided for releasable connection to a seat shell
having a plurality of fingers and a plurality of openings. The
cushion assembly advantageously includes a cushion defining a
plurality of recesses, and a supporting frame connected to the
cushion and having a plurality of projections. In use, the fingers
of the shell extend upwardly within the respective recess and
overlappingly engage the cushion supporting frame, and the
projections extend downwardly within the respective shell
opening.
In another aspect of the present invention a vehicle seat includes
a seat shell having a plurality of fingers and a plurality of
openings, and a cushion assembly including a foam cushion having a
plurality of recesses and a supporting frame peripherally connected
to the cushion. In use, the fingers extend inclinably upwardly
within the recesses and overlappingly engage the edge of the frame,
while the cushion assembly projections extend downwardly for
receipt in the shell openings in order to interlockingly secure
them together.
Specifically, the cushion assembly is adapted to be inserted
longitudinally into a concavely formed seat shell such that
inclined and integrally formed fingers on the shell extend upwardly
through formed recesses in the foam cushion and overlap the edges
of a relatively flat polygonal support ring moldably connected to
the underside of the cushion. Then the cushion assembly is manually
urged against the resilient biasing action of the foam cushion
against the seat shell and/or against the action of the fingers to
positively engage locking projections on the support ring of the
cushion assembly with corresponding openings formed in the seat
shell. Preferably, the locking projections are right circular
cylinders that positively prevent movement of the cushion assembly
during normal use, but which are of relatively short or stubby
length to enable the projections and the opposite sides of the
support ring to be urged manually and deflectably upwardly a
moderate amount for quick release of the cushion assembly from the
seat shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a seat and
self-locking cushion assembly therefor constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the seat shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational perspective view of the seat shell
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing details of construction
thereof;
FIG. 4 is partial longitudinal elevational sectional view of the
seat shell and cushion assembly as taken along line IV--IV of FIG.
2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged and diagrammatic fragmentary view of a
portion of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the supporting frame portion of the
cushion assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the supporting frame of FIG.
6.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a seat 10 including a seat shell 12 and
separate seat and back, self-locking cushion assemblies 14,16 is
releasably mounted on a vehicle frame 18 as by a conventional
positioning mechanism or seat travel adjuster 20. In the embodiment
illustrated the positioning mechanism includes a pair of moveable
upper rails 22 that can slide longitudinally on a pair of
stationery lower rails 24. The upper rails can be releasably
secured to the bottom of the seat shell by upwardly extending
screwthreaded fasteners 26 and the lower rails can be releasably
secured to the vehicle frame through depending screwthreaded
fasteners 28 or the like. A control lever 30 can be manipulated by
the operator of the vehicle to release a conventional detent
mechanism, not shown, to position the rails and thus the seat in
the desired longitudinal position. However, it is to be appreciated
that the seat shell can be mounted on the frame in any way without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, the seat shell 12 is preferably of formed
sheet steel having a recessed bottom wall 32 and a recessed back
wall 34 and a curved and blending lower rear intersection region
36. A pair of outwardly inclined sidewalls 38 are formed by the
shell which increasingly taper in depth from an upwardly curved
front edge 40 and from a top edge 42 toward the intersection
region. The peripheral edge of the seat shell is preferably rolled
over and the walls provided with transverse crenellations 44 for
strength. Four coupling joints 46 are formed on the bottom wall in
order to secure the seat shell to the upper rails 22 discussed
above. Each of the coupling joints is preferably an integrally
formed depending foot 48 with one or two internally threaded
washers or nuts 50 welded to the shell in the depression thus
formed.
Advantageously, the seat shell 12 also has a first and second
pluralities of upwardly inclined fingers 52,54 integrally punched
or pierced from the sheet steel, and a plurality of cylindrical
openings 56 punched therethrough. Preferably, a plurality of
internally threaded nuts 58 are welded to the seat shell at spaced
intervals to allow optional arm rests or hip side support members,
now shown, to be releasably secured to the shell by conventional
fasteners in order to widen usage of the seat for a variety of
vehicular applications.
The cushion assemblies 14 and 16 are basically similar in
construction, so that a description of one will suffice for an
understanding of the other. Accordingly, reference is made to FIGS.
4 and 5 showing the seat cushion assembly 14 as including a
foam-like resiliently compressible cushion or elastomeric body
element 60 defining a plurality of inner face recesses 62. As shown
also in FIGS. 6 and 7, the seat cushion assembly further has a
supporting frame 64 around the lower peripheral part thereof
consisting generally of a plate-like polygonal ring 66 and a pair
of right circular depending projections or locking pins 68 welded
or otherwise firmly secured to the underside surface of the ring.
The ring is substantially flat, but does have an upwardly extending
portion or offset 70 at each side thereof that defines a slight
downwardly facing cavity 72 so that the distal end surface 74 of
each projection 68 does not extend to any substantial degree below
the lower surface of the ring. The primary reason for the offset,
however, is to match the offset crenelation 44 in the floor of the
seat shell 12 that provides clearance for the travel seat adjuster
20. While the front portion of the ring has a rearwardly facing
edge 76, a pair of generally rectangular apertures 78 are formed in
the ring at the rear portion thereof in order to provide another
pair of complimenting rearwardly facing edges 80 at that location.
The polygonal ring illustrated also has a plurality of optional
openings 82 for interlocking compatibility with the cushion
material and for material reduction.
The cushion 60 is preferably formed of polyurethane foam which is
initially poured in place into a mold cavity, not shown,
substantially lined with a vacuum formed cover 84. The cover is
preferably a fabric reinforced vinyl plastic upholstery material
glued or otherwise adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the
polygonal ring 66. And lastly, the supporting frame 64 is
preferably made from medium impact ABS plastic material
(acrylonitule-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic injection molding
compound), although a ferrous material is also an option. The
cavity of the mold is preferably inverted so as to place the
polygonal ring at the top part of the pour mold, and the
polyurethane filler material is subsequently injected into the
cover which is expanded by a vacuum against the cavity walls. The
filter material extends into the openings 82 to better mold the
polygonal ring to the foam cushion material. The cover can be
pressed against the outer surface of the polygonal ring while the
adhesive is still tacky to secure it in an overlapping manner
thereto. Some trimming of the cover may be necessary as
required.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABLILITY
The self-locking cushion assemblies 14,16 of the present invention
are particularly adaptable to the seats of earthmoving vehicles
such as wheel loaders, motor graders, scrapers and the like.
The seat cushion assembly 14, for example, can be easily manually
installed into the seat shell 12 by a vehicle operator by grasping
the cushion assembly in a slightly upwardly inclined and forwardly
disposed position corresponding to that shown by phantom lines in
FIG. 4. The front edge 40 can even serve as a partial support
during this period, with the seat being disposed at an inclined
downward angle of only about 3.degree. so as to initially cause the
rearwardmost shell fingers 52 to be located within the rear cushion
assembly recesses 62 and within the corresponding apertures 78. As
the seat cushion assembly is urged rearwardly, or to the left when
viewing FIG. 4, the lower rear part of the cushion assembly makes
contact with the curved intersection region 36 of the shell, while
the front portion passes beyond the front edge and is being
lowered. This results in a slight clockwise rotation of the cushion
assembly when viewed from the side, which motion is sufficient to
enable the front shell fingers 54 to pass inclinably upwardly into
the front cushion assembly recesses 62. As such lowering rotational
movement is continued the rear fingers 52 and the front fingers 54
pass upwardly and forwardly over the respective rearwardly facing
edges 80 and 76 of the supporting frame 64 as can be visualized
with reference to FIG. 6. Note that the side edges of the fingers
52 can be closely spaced within the confines of the apertures 78 so
as to positively limit transverse sliding movement of the cushion
assembly on the seat shell.
Preferably, the distal ends of the fingers 52,54 penetrate into the
foam cushion 60 and provide a slightly increasing installation
effort for the operator as the distal end surfaces 74 of the
depending lock projections 68 travel rearwardly over the upper
surface of the seat crenellation 44 and finally into alignment with
the laterally opposite shell openings 56, only one of which is
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 because of the nature of the views. The seat
cushion assembly 14 can then be forced downwardly and fully seated
within the shell 12 and with the fingers overlappingly engaging the
polygonal ring 66 as can be appreciated by reference to FIG. 5. The
foam cushion material is sufficiently compressed by the fingers to
continually exert a forward biasing force tending to retain the
depending projections 68 lockingly and fully within the shell
openings 56 by side loading frictional engagement.
The seat cushion assembly 14 can, of course, be manually removed by
the reverse of the above assembly process without using any tools
or loose parts that could be inadvertently lost or damaged. The
locking projections or pins 68 are of relatively short length in
order to enable the distal end surfaces 74 to be urged manually
upwardly by one's fingers and beyond the confines of the openings
56 in the seat shell 12 with a limited degree of upwardly arcing
deflection of the opposite sides of the polygonal ring 66. Although
not illustrated in detail, the back cushion assembly 16 is
installed in substantially the same manner, only by lowering it to
initially engage the lower fingers 52 overlappingly into engagement
with corresponding lower apertures 78 in the polygonal ring 66
thereof and the upper fingers 54 over the lower inside edge of the
polygonal ring. However, the back cushion assembly ring is flat or
without the deformation shown in FIG. 7 in the instant embodiment
because the openings 56 for receiving the locking projections 68
are not angularly recessed to the same degree as the seat cushion
assembly.
Other aspects, objects and advantages will become apparent from a
study of the specification, drawings and appended claims.
* * * * *